UPDATE: It’s official, as the Twins announced that they’ve declined Nathan’s option and hope to re-sign him at a lesser salary.
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No surprise, but Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that “all signs point to the Twins declining Joe Nathan‘s $12.5 million option for 2012.”
Nathan missed all of 2010 following Tommy John elbow surgery and struggled upon returning this year, but pitched very well down the stretch after a stint on the disabled list.
However, the decision between a $12.5 million option or $2 million buyout is a no-brainer for the Twins even if they’re interested in having Nathan back in 2012.
He threw 29 innings with a 3.38 ERA and 28/5 K/BB ratio from late June through the end of the season, but Nathan’s velocity was below his pre-surgery levels and he’s a 37-year-old entering a market saturated with veteran closers.
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- humanexcrement - Oct 25, 2011 at 12:07 PM
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I hear the Washington Nationals calling…
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- pkers - Oct 25, 2011 at 12:19 PM
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Then they’ll have another closer that they can then trade to the Twins for prospects. Genius!
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- presidentmiraflores - Oct 25, 2011 at 12:29 PM
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Cashman will take him at $12 mil to pitch the 7th.
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- azvikefan - Oct 25, 2011 at 3:11 PM
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He missed all of 2010, not 2011. He looked good late in the season after the Twins were out of it and I would really hate to see him go.
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- proudlycanadian - Oct 25, 2011 at 4:41 PM
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If his velocity was OK late in the season, the Jays will take a close look at him.
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- luckywi - Oct 25, 2011 at 6:06 PM
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But really, the big question is, what the Twins are going to do with the “Ace” Francisco Liriano?
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- Cris E - Oct 26, 2011 at 1:57 AM
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They’ll re-sign him.
Nathan will happily trade a 1 yr deal for $12m for a 2 yr at $18m or something. He likes MN and he seems pretty aware he’s a different guy from three or five years ago. MN is a pretty easy place to place to play, and that can be a big deal if you’re an expensive elder playing out the string.
